‘Boko Haram’ Crisis ‘UN’ Not Needed Against Nigerian Militants.

Nigeria does not need the help of UN or African Union troops to take on Boko Haram, the country’s national security adviser has told the BBC.

Sambo Dasuki said Nigeria, and its neighbours were in a “good shape” to take on the insurgents.

But he acknowledged the group, which is fighting to create an Islamic state, were a “real security threat”.

Meanwhile US Secretary of State John Kerry says he plans to visit Nigeria in a couple of days.

Mr Kerry made the announcement in a speech discussing how to tackle violent extremism at the Davos economic conference.

Since the Nigerian government declared a state of emergency 20 months ago in three north-eastern states to deal with the insurgency, Boko Haram has strengthened and now controls several towns, where it has declared a caliphate.

The militants gained worldwide notoriety after kidnapping more than 200 schoolgirls in April last year – who have yet to be rescued.

Founded in 2002, initially focused on opposing Western education – Boko Haram means “Western education is forbidden” in the Hausa language